burgundyja said:
I am building a rv-8a and like most of us i don't have unlimited funds. I am going to put a good chunck of my budget in a new xpio-360 so i would like to know what is the min. gauges that i will need to go flying. then later i will upgrade to a efis. could i use just a garmin 396? it has alltuide, ground speed, turn coudintor, dg, vs. it will be vfr day only at first. sorry about the spelling
I did what you're talking about. Minimal panel; maybe with some home-brew instrumentation. This approach got me flying safely. Each year or two I'll buy something new for the panel. I'm currently on my third panel.
As for cheap gauges, there are lots of possibilities. One primary thing to consider is the reliability and functionality. meaning, you buy a Chief auto parts oil pressure gauge, have a low pressure switch on a light bulb annunciator as a backup, etc.
Van sells some very reasonably priced gauges that are pretty reliable. Have seen several for sale used on this list. Keep your eyes open.
Mag compass - who says it has to be a $150 aircraft whiskey compass? There are lots of mag compasses out there for non-aviation uses that would be "legal" in an experimental. Same goes for altimeters and slip-skid ball.
As for the 396 for flight info? I don't believe it will offer anything in the area of basic VFR instrumentation. But for a lot less money, the 196 will offer a very nice moving map and other positional/airport data. Put it right there in your panel.
If there's any way to get an artificial horizon, I really recommend you get one. How about a cheap, used vacuum system from someone upgrading to an EFIS?? RV's don't do well in low vis and no horizon reference!
Another source of low-cost equipment would be a fly-in. Oshkosh? Sun-n-Fun? There are always the salvage operators selling all kinds of crazy things for very little $$ in many cases! I found a really old (must be 60+ yrs) 3" mag compass at one a year or so ago for something like $15. Got it on my shelf in the office. gotta look but there are deals out there.